Seaming mechanism



April 2, 1935. P. H. LANGE SEAMING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 2, 19332 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. Pfll/L H Lfl/Yf ATTORNEY Patented Apr. .2,1935 r". i i

va p STATES ATEN o'mcai Application August 2, 1933, serum. csazs'tRenewed February 19, 1935 12 Claims. (01. 11s 24) This invention relatesto new and useful im- 13 is a Sectional view on an enlargedscaleprovements in seaming mechanism and has for showing a screw-adjustmentemp y e an object to provide aseaming-mechanism for at' Referring indetail to the drawings, at' 15 is taching' ends or covers to can bodiesof square, shown a stationary chuck or work holder mounted oblong orother irregular shape and which seamon a stationary shaft or; support[Gland also 5 2 ing mechanism is a simple and well balanced mounted onsaid support above the work holderor mechanism suitable for high speedproduction. chuck is a gear ll, keyed or otherwise'rigidly'fse- With theforegoing and other objects in view, cured to the support so as to bestationary there.- as will latter become more apparent, the inventionwith. Mounted for turning movement about the '10 includes certainfeatures of construction, combi Support I6 is a. seaming head generallydesignated nation and arrangement of parts as more particul8 andincluding a long sleeve or tubular portion larly shown in theaccompanying drawings and I9 mounted on the support l6.and at its lowerpointed out in the claims. It is to be understood, end ing a flangebviously, y Suitable however, that the invention is not limited to thebearing means may be provided 'for'the' sleeve 19.

specific structure disclosed and that the invention A somewhat shortersleeve "2| is mounted on includes all such variations and modificationsas the sl ve 9 and t s ho ter leeve is for a por fall within the spiritof the invention and the tion of its length e ved by a bushingv 1 otherscope of the appended claims, I bearing means 22- mounted a suitablesup:

In the drawings: port 23. It;wil1 be apparent. that plate .28 forms Fig.1 is avertical sectional view taken substanpartof. the seaming head l8and in fact forms 20 tially along the lane of the line l-.-l of Figp3that part on which the operatingfmechanism and showing a seamingmechanism incorporating is mounted. Therefore, the entire seaming headthe features of the present'invention; will rotate with the sleeve l9.A" cam means '24 Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the mechanism, carryingfirst and second operation camsgas will 25 one seaming roller beingomittedto better illuslater be more fully set forth,, is carried by the25 trate 'adrivemeans employed; sleeve 2| so as to rotate therewith; Tothe Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken sub sleeve I9 therelissecured a gear 25 and a gear 26 stantially along thev plane of the' line3-3 of is secured to'the sleeve 2|. Meshing with the Fig. 1; gears25'and 26 are gears 2l and28 respectively 30 Fig. 4 is aside elevationalview taken as lookdriven at a continuous and constant speed; The 30 ingfrom the lower side of Fig-3, parts being ratio between the respectivegears is such as to broken away to better illustrate details of congivethe desired diiferential as,.for example'fthe struction; I V a a V Wseaminghead may have eight revolutions while Fig. 5 is a detailelevational viewtaken as when the cam is making Sev n IEVO LI O astogivelooking from the right in Fig.4; a differential of one. Of course, therevolutions 35 Fig.6 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged may be 9and 8, or anything else desired as long scale and showing the structureof the'lower end s a differential O 011615 Obtainedl f i portion of aseaming roller carrying spindle; 0n the e i d i a e arranged fi st andFig. I is an edge elevational view illustrating a second P S a =m0hamsms and as 40 v flying coupling; these mechamsms are duplicates ofone another, 40

Fig ,8 is a plan View of a cam roller g with the exceptionof the seamingrollers, a deau'xiliaryrlever employed;, scription of one will sufiicefor both. It will be Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of said leverevident thateither set of mechanisms may be t with a cam roller in lacethereon the camroller first seaming pp-eraitiqn mechanism and that thebeing qhown in g other set of mechanism will necessarily be set to qerform the second seamin o eration' For the Fig. id is a plan view of aholder for a seam ng gum-0560f Operating the firgst 2 Second pem i VtiOn mechanisms the cam means 24 includes upi f 11 1S slmllar Vlewof Camroller lever on par and lower cams 29I'and 30 arranged in predewhichsaid holder and auxlhary lever. are to be ad-' mm tio ship. t operate.the respective 50 3115 31 mounted; I i mechanisms at the proper times.

Fig 12 is all end eleva-tional View S g n T0 mount theseaming mechanismsthe disc or slightly separated relation the holderof Fig. 10 plate 20 isnotched or cutaway in itsopposite and the lever of Fig. 11, the viewsuggesting the sides as at 3| and in the notches thus formed manner ofassembling of these parts;. 'and the disc receives bearing boxes 32 thepurpose 5 pivot pin 34, whereby with an opening 38 extending parallelwith the opening 31 and this opening 38 rotatably receives the spindle39 of an auxiliary lever or arm 45 shown more particularly in Figs. 8andQ. This auxiliary lever 45 is in the nature ofv an arm extendingradially from one end of the spindle39. At a point spaced from itsspindle 35 the auxiliary lever or arm 45 is provided with an open.-

ing 4| receiving the spindle 42 of a cam roller 43, the arrangementobviously being such that the carnroller is eccentric with relation-tothe spindle 39.

Pivotedto the cam lever 35 at 44 is a bar 45 extending above the leverand having its upper end portion arranged at one side of the armfifi. Abolt .or stud 45 is carried 'by the lever and extends through theintermediate portion of the bar-45, and threaded on the outer end ofsaid bolt or stud is anut fl between-which and the bar there is arrangeda stiff coil spring 48. Obviouslygthe tendency of this spring is toforce the bar '45 in the direction of the lever 35 and the arm an. Thearm is bifurcatedat its'outer end as at 49 and each portion of'saidouter end is perforated as ati'50 to receive a cross stud 5| car.- riedby an eyebolt 52 extending through the upper portion of the bar l5;Threaded into said portion about the saidscrew is a tubular screw 53which latter has both internal and external threads whereby a micrometeradjustment is provided. A look nut M may'be'threaded onthe respect tothe lever 35 maybe very minutely.

adjusted.

One side of the enlarged portionor' head 36 of the lever 35 is formed toprovideanadjus'table mounting for a seaming tool or roller spindleholder 55. This holder 55 includes a bodyportion having an opening 56therethrough for the reception of a bushing 5! 'in'which is mounted theseaming toolspindle58. To one side of opening 56 the body carries aprojecting fin 59 cut by a groove 60 which latter'is T-shaped as bestshown in Fig. 12. The head portion 35 of the camlever is providedwith avertical slot Bl of considerable width andintermediate its upper andlower edges, saidhead carries a rib G2 intersected by said slot,

In assembling thehol'der 55 .on the head of the cam lever, the parts areso arranged that the'rib 52 enters the groove 6.0 an'dthe fin59 entersthe slot 6i. T-bolts 63 are "provided and have their heads 63A disposedin the inner portion of the T-shaped groove 80 and then extend throughopenings 54 in the head of the lever 35 and at their outer ends carrynuts B5 adapted to.be tightened to draw the holder against the head onthe lever. Set screws or bolts 56 arecarried by the head portion of thecam lever and are arranged transverse with respect to the T-bolts 53 andenter the slot 5i. The function of the screws 62 is to adjust the holder55 radially with -of the slots 32 and said bearing boxes are thereforeradially adjustable with respect to the chuck or work holder. Eachbearing box includes :2. depending tubular portion 67 disposed below thedisc 25 and on the upper surface of the disc a flange 68 having anelongated slot 59 therein and through which slot extends a bolt l5threaded into the plate. It will be apparent that on loosening of thebolt 10 the bearing box 32 may be moved inwardly or outwardly withrespect to the chuck 'or work holder and then secured in the desiredposition of adjustment on re-tightening of the bolt.

Spindle 58 extends downwardly through the bearing box 32 and its extremelower end is reduced and screw threaded providing a stud ll. Surroundingthe lower end portion of the spindle is a sleeve 12 provided with aflange or platelike portion 13 against the lower surface of which aseaming tool or roller "M is clamped or secured as by a nut 75 threadedonto the portion 70 of the spindle. As disclosed nut provided withspaced openings '16 whereby the nut may be turned by a spanner wrenchalthough it will be understood that this is but a detail which may bealtered as convenient.

On the lower tubular portion 57 of the bearing box there is rotatablymounted a gear Tl meshing with the stationary gear I! arranged above thechuck or work holder I5. The arrangement of the parts is such that gear17 remains constantly in mesh with the gear l1 irrespective of theposition of the tool or seaming roller 14. A universal driving couplinggenerally designated 18 forms a driving connection between the gear 17and the spindle and seaming tool. Coupling 18 comprises a membersubstantially in the shape of a cross having its arms in parallelplanes. .As here disclosed this coupling is provided with an opening 19whereby the coupling is loosely disposed about the sleeve 72 and thecoupling includes arms and 5! arranged at right angles to one anotherand arranged one above the other.

The gear H is provided with a slot 82 (see Fig. 2) slidably receivingthe arm 8! of the coupling member and the plate or flange-like portion13 0f the sleeve 72 is provided with a groove arranged at right anglesto the groove 82 of the gear and the arm 85 of the coupling member isarranged in this groove of said plate or flange portion. Figs. 1 and 6are taken at right angles to one another and a comparison of thesefigures will make clear the structure. With this particular drivingconnection it will be apparent that the sleeve 12 will be driven by thegear 17 and that such sleeve will drive the tool 74. The

gear I? will remain in constant engagement or mesh with the gear #1 andowing to the universal driving connection the tool will be rotatedirrespective of its position which varies as will now be described.

7 The generated shape of the seaming tools is well understood and nodescription of the tools will therefore be given. It is likewise truethat acter is well understood. Whena cover is to be attached to a can,the cover is positioned" on the can and the chuck of the properconfiguration enters the cover. Thereafter, as the machine operates onetool gives the cover and the upper end portion of the canan initialcurling and when the first tool completes its work the second tool comesinto operation and seals the'cover to the can. 1

During operation the tool14 is moved toward and from the work and iscarried about the work with the disc 20 and in addition revolves on itsown axis which axis is formed by the spindle 58. As the parts move'thecam roller 43 engages the cam means 24 with the result that there is atendency to force the arm 40 outwardly by turning it on its spindle 39.This is prevented by the spring 48 pressing against the bar'45 andtherefore engagement of the cam roller by the cam results in the lever35 being rocked about its pivot pin 34 in a direction to carry thespindle and tool inwardly towardthe work on the work holder or chuck;

Should a greater strain be placed on the part then required for doubleseaming, as when the tool is passing over aside seam of the can, thetool may move outwardly notwithstanding en'- gagement between the camand cam roller. This movement will, of course, result in a compressingof the spring 48 due to the upper portion of the bar being forcedoutwardly. This permits of a turning movement of the arm 40 with itsspindle '39 as an axis. Since the arm 40 turns outwardly on the verticalaxis it will be apparent that the cam 'roller will remain in fullengagementwith the cam sothat there willbe no excessive wear. The camroller is kept in engagement with the cam by means of a coil spring 83arranged in a pocket in the disc 20 and at its inner end bearing againstthe extreme lower end portion 84 of the spindle 39; This radially withrespectto the work holder it will be apparent that gear changes may bemade when tool changes are made and without the use of any additionalparts save the chuck or work holder, the rollers and the gears. It isnot necessary to replace the cam levers 35 or other parts since byloosening the T-bolts 63 the tool spindle holders 55 may be adjustedinwardly or outwardly and to adjust them inwardly it is but necessary,when the T-bolts are loosened to tighten the screws 66. .If the spindleholders are to be adjusted outwardly this may be accomplished byloosening or backing off the screws 66 while the T-bolts are loose. Ofcourse, when adjustment has been made the bolts must again be tightenedup. Very fine adjustments of the arm 40 and the cam roller may be madeby the micrometer screw adjustment above referred to.

It will be understood that as the cam engages the cam rollerand movesfrom it, the tool 14 is carried to and from the chuck. The camengagement with the roller forces the tool toward the chuck and thespring 83 causing the roller to bear constantly against the cam drawsthe tool away from the chuck. This latter action will also be assistedby'c'entrifugal force. The

first and' second cam rollers 43' are shown reversed with respect to oneanother whereby they will only engage theproper cam- 29. or-30ofmeans'24. .Obviously', either roller may be on the first operationseaming mechanism;

Having thus setforth the nature of my invention, what I claim is: 1. Ina seaming-mechanism, a stationary work holder, a seaming head, means forrotatingisaid seaming head about said work holder, Ia cam, meansto'rotate said cam, a pivoted cam lever onsaid :seaming head, a rolleron said lever,

means norr'nally holding said roller in engagementwith said cam'wherebysaid lever may be rocked by said cam, a seaming tool spindle holder,means mounting said seaming tool. spindle holder on' said lever formovement therewith and for adjustment thereon radially relative to saidwork holder, a seaming tool spindle in and movable with and supported bysaid seaming tool spindle holder, a gear on said stationary work-holder,a gear .onthe seaming head and 2. In a-seaming mechanism, astationary'work holder, a seaming headymeans for rotating said seaminghead. about said work'holder', a cam,

means. to';rotate said cam, a pivoted cam lever on said seaming head, aroller on said lever,

means normallyholding: said roller in engage-' ment with' said camwhereby said lever may be ,rocked, by. said cam, a' seaming tool spindleholder, means mounting said seaming ,tool spindle holder on said lever;for movement therewith andfor adjustment thereon radially relative tosaid work :holder, a seaming tool spindle in and movable with andsupported by said/seaming tool spindle holder,;a bearing box in said;seaming head .below .said tool holder, means-mounting said bearing boxforadjustment radially relative ,to-, said; work holder, said spindleextending through said bearing box, a gear on said work 7 holder, a gearon said bearing box and meshing constantly with the gear, on the workholder, a seaming tool carried bythe spindle below said bearing. box andadapted to be carried toward and from the ,work holder independent ofthe bearing box as said leveris rocked by the .cam, and a flexibledriving connection between the tool and the bearing-box carried gearwhereby said tool is constantly driven as it is moved toward andfrom-the work;

3. In a seaming mechanism,a stationary work seaming head about said workholder, a cam means to rotate saidcam, a pivoted cam lever on saidseaming headya roller on* said lever, means normally holding said rollerin engagement with said cam whereby said lever may beirocked by holder,means mounting. said bearing boxjforadholder, a seaming head, means forrotating said 7'0 ment thereon radially relative to said work hold- 7er, a seaming tool spindle in and movable with-and, supportedbysaidseaming tool spindle holder, a :bearing box in said seaming headbelowsaid tool justment radially relative to said work holder, saidspindleextendingthrough said bearing box, a gear on said work holder, agear on said bearing box and meshing constantly with thegear on the 3work holder, at seamingtool carried by the spindle below saidbearingzbox and adaptedto be carried toward and from the .work:holderindependent. of the bearing box as said lever is rocked by the cam, asleeve on the :lower end portion of said spindle, a plate carried bysaidsleeve and forming a support for said seaming tool, a driving connectionbetween the bearing box mounted gear and said plate, said drivingconnection comprising a slot 'inathe gear, a slot in theplate' at rightangles to the slot inothe'gear, and a cross shaped member on the sleeveand having its respective arms slidably. received .in the slots of thegear and plate respectively. a. c c

4. Ina seaming mechanism, a stationary work holder, a seamingheady-means for rotating said seaming head iabout said work holder, acam, means to rotate said cam, .a pivoted cam lever on said seaminghead, a roller on said lever means normally holding said roller inengagement with saidcam whereby said lever may be rocked by said. cam, aseaming tool spindle holder, means mounting said seaming tool'spindleholder on'said lever for movement therewith and for adjustmentthereoniradially relative to saidworkholder, a seamingxtool spindle inand movable with and supported by said seaming tool spindle holder, agear on said stationary work holder, a gear on the seaminghead andmeshing constantly with the gear-on .the ,work holder,: a seaming toolcarried by thespindle and adapted to'be carried toward and from the.worle holder as said lever is rocked by: the cam, a sleeve on theilowerend portion of .said spindle, a plate carried by said sleeve andrforminga. support for said seaming tool, a driving connection between theseaming head mounted gearandsaid plate, said driving connectioncomprising a slotrin'the gear, a slot' in the plate. at right. angles tothe slot in the gear, and a cross shaped member on the sleeve andhavingits respective armsslidably received in the slots of the gear .and platerespectively.

' 5. Ina seaming mechanism, a pivotally mounted cam lever, a camroller'on'one end portion of said lever, said lever having its other endportion notched toprovide a' vertically extending slot, said end portionof the lever having 'a horizontally arranged rib, a seaming tool holderhaving a groove receiving said rib, a fin onsaid holder andentering-said slot, means securing said holder against the end portionofthe lever with said rib in said groove-and said fin in said slot, andmeans carried by said lever and engagingsaid fin and supporting it inthe desired position of adjustment in said slot. l 4

6. In a seaming mechanism, a cam and a seaming headhavinga relativerevolving motion one with respect tothe'other, a lever pivotallysupported on the seaming head for movement in the plane of the cam,'aseaming tool carried by said lever, a cam roller to engage thecam,-a-support on said lever, said support including a spindle rotatablymounted by said lever and extending not said cam, and means mountingsaid cam roller on said am to'one side .of said spindle and for:movement withthe-arm toward and from the cam -intbe plane of the latterwhereby to admit of an ,7. In a seaming mechanism, a cam and a seaminghead having a relative revolving motion one with respect to the other, alever pivotally supported on the seaming head, a seaming tool carried,by said lever, a cam rollerto engage the cam, a support on said lever,said support including a spindle rotatably mountedby said lever andextending parallel with the face of the cam, an arm on said spindle andeccentricwith respect there- .to, a bar pivotally mounted on said lever,a micrometer screw connection between said bar and the arm of saidsupport whereby said support may be adjusted relative to said bar,spring means normally tending to movesaid bar in the direction of saidlever to rotate said support and carry the arm thereof in the directionof the cam, and means mountingthe cam roller onsaid arm of the supportwhereby to admit of an extra outward movement of the seaming toolnotwithstanding engagement of the cam and cam roller and withoutchanging, the full face contact between thercam and cam roller.

8. In a seaming mechanism, a cam and a seaming head having a relativerevolving motion one with respect to the other, a lever pivotallysupported on the seaming head, a seaming tool carried by said lever, acam roller to engage the cam, a support on said lever, said supportincluding a spindle rotatably mounted bysaid lever and extendingparallel with the face of the earn, an arm on said spindle and eccentricwith respect thereto, a bar pivotallymounted on said lever, anadjustable connection between said bar and the arm or" said supportwhereby said support may be adjusted relative to said bar, spring meansnormally tending to move said bar in the direction of said lever torotate said support and carry the arm thereof in the direction of thecam, and means mounting the cam holder on said arm of the supportwhereby to admit of an extra outward movement of the seaming toolnotwithstanding engagement of the cam and cam roller and withoutchanging the full face contact between the cam and cam roller.

9. In a seaming mechanism, a stationary work holder, a seaming head,means for rotating said seaming head about said work holder, a cam,means to rotate said cam, a pivotedcam lever, a roller on said lever,means normally holding said roller in engagement with said cam wherebysaid lever may be rocked by said cam, a seaming tool spindle holder,means mounting said seaming tool spindle holder on said lever formovement therewith-and for adjustment thereon radially relative to saidwork holder, a seaming tool spindle in and movable with and supported bysaid seaming tool spindle holder, a bearing box in said seaming headbelow saidtool holder, means mounting said bearing box for adjustmentradially relative to said Work holder, said spindle extending throughsaid bearing box, a gear on said work holder, a gear on said bearing boxand meshing constantly with the gear on the work holder, a seaming toolcarried by the spindle below said bearing box and adapted to be carriedtoward and from the workholder independent of the bearing box as saidlever is rockedtby the cam, a flexible driving connection between thetool and the hearing box carried gear whereby said tool is constantlydriven as it is moved toward and from the work,

a support on said lever, said support including a spindle rotatablymounted by said lever and extending parallel with the face of the cam,an arm on said spindle and eccentric with respect thereto, a barpivotally mounted on saidlever, an adjustable connection between saidbar and the arm of said support whereby said support may be adjustedrelative to said bar, spring means nor- 'mally tending to move said barin the direction of said lever to rotate said support and carry the armthereof in the direction of the cam, and

means mounting thecam roller on said arm of' the support whereby toadmit of an extra outward movement of the seaming tool notwithstandingengagement of the cam and cam roller and without changing the full facecontact between the cam and cam roller.

10. Ina seaming mechanism, a-stationary work holder, a seaming head,means for rotating said seaming head about said work holder, a cam,means to rotate said cam, a pivoted cam lever, a roller onsaid lever,means normally holding said roller in engagement with said cam wherebysaid levermay be rocked by said earn, a seaming tool spindle holder,means mounting said seammg tool spindle holder on said lever formovement therewith and for adjustment thereon radially relative to saidwork holder, a seaming tool spindlein and movable with and supported bysaid seaming tool spindle holder, a bearing box in said seaming headbelow said tool holder, means mounting said bearing box for adjustmentradially relative to said work holder, said spindle extending throughsaid bearing box, a gear on said work holder, a gear on said bearing boxand meshing constantly with the gear on the work holder, a seaming toolcarried by the spindle below said bearing box and adapted to be carriedtoward and from the work holder independent of the bearing box as saidlever is rocked by the cam, a flexible driving connection between thetool and the bearing box carried gear whereby said tool is constantlydriven as itis moved toward and from the work, a spring pressedrotatable support on said lever, and said support carrying the camroller to thereby admit of an extra outward movement of the seaming toolnotwithstanding engagement of the cam and cam roller.

11. In a seaming mechanism, a cam and a seaming head having a relativerevolving motion one with respect to the other, a lever pivotallysupported on the seaming head, a seaming tool carried bysaid lever, acam roller to engage the cam,

a support on said lever, said support including a spindle rotatablymounted by said lever and extending parallel with the face of the cam,an arm on said spindle and eccentric with respect thereto, spring meansnormally tending to rotate said support on its spindle to carry said armin the direction of said cam, means mounting said cam roller on said armto one side of said spindle whereby to admit of an extra outwardmovement of the seaming tool notwithstanding engagement of the cam andcam roller and without changing the full face contact between the camand cam roller, and spring means engaging the lower end of said spindleand serving to maintain said cam lever in position with said roller inengagement with the cam. V

12. In a seaming mechanism, a work holder, a

cam lever, a vertical pivot mounting said lever,

means engaging the fin and securing it in the desired position'in saidslot to secure the tool holder in the desired position of adjustment.PAUL H. LANGE.

